Why was Paekche art especially open to influences from China?

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Korean dragon jar — Korean art Dragon jar, porcelain with iron-painted decoration under clear glaze, Korea, mid-17th century; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York. 31.4 × 37.1 cm. Diameter at mouth 12 cm. Diameter at base 9.5 cm.

The Paekche kingdom’s openness to Chinese influences was primarily a result of its favorable geographic position in southwestern Korea.1

This location allowed the kingdom to easily receive cultural elements from two directions:
* Northern China: Cultural influences were introduced by land through the Koguryŏ kingdom.1
* Southern China: Influences from southern China were easily transmitted across the navigable East Asian seas.1

This receptivity is particularly evident in Paekche sculpture, which evolved to reflect the softly modeled style of southern Chinese art, specifically that of the Nan (Southern) Liang dynasty. Historical evidence suggests that many Chinese artisans traveled to Paekche during this period, further facilitating the exchange of artistic techniques and styles.2